Russia is a beautiful and intriguing place that lands on the bucket list of many travelers. But, as with other foreign destinations, money is always a concern. If that’s the case for you, there are some strategies you can implement to cut down on your costs. Following are three tips on how you can travel to Russia on a budget.
Russia on a Budget: 3 Way to Make it Affordable
Travel Out Of Season
With a reputation of formidable winters, most people like to visit Russia when it’s warmer. So, if you book your visit from May to October, you are going to have to contend with larger crowds and higher prices. And that will obviously be an issue if you have a limited budget.
The higher costs won’t just apply to your tickets. Accommodations, as well as the cost of living while in Russia, will be higher because local businesses will have plenty of tourists to serve. That means you’ll have to budget more money for meals, transportation, excursions, and souvenirs.
But you don’t have to struggle with all of those financial roadblocks. All you need to do is to plan your visit to Russia so that you can arrive there out of season. And while it may be colder, it will also be less crowded.
Since there will be fewer tourists, the cost of traveling across the country will be lower. And don’t be surprised to see the local business owners competing for your attention. Then, you can enjoy your visit while paying less for the privilege.
Explore Alternative Accommodation Facilities
The kind of accommodation facility that you choose to stay in while in Russia can make or break you financially. The more luxury you are looking for, the more expensive your trip will be.
If you are on a budget, you cannot afford to be picky. But that doesn’t mean you should be careless. If you are smart, you can still get a comfortable place to sleep in without paying too much. You just have to be willing to explore alternative and unconventional accommodation facilities.
You could look for hotels that aren’t as luxurious or book a place to stay via Airbnb. If you choose to stay at an Airbnb, you can book a room with a local host instead of paying for an entire apartment. You can also opt for couch surfing, which may provide you with a free place to sleep at night though that may not be the safest option.
There are also online platforms that enable you to get accommodation on working farms. In exchange for some working a certain number of hours on the farm, you can stay there for free.
Finally, hostels are another option. They tend to be much cheaper than hotels. You can choose to stay in single-gender hostels or coed ones. It’s up to you. What matters is that you are willing to share a room with other people.
Opt For Cheap Flights
The cost of getting yourself to Russia will probably be one of the biggest costs you incur. So you need to minimize it as much as possible by getting cheap flights.
First, opt for the economy section. It may not be as comfortable as the business class but it will be more pocket-friendly. Also, think about traveling on weekdays especially from Monday to Thursday. The cost of traveling internationally tends to be cheaper on such days.
You should also think of traveling on red-eye flights. They are not very popular with people so airlines tend to discount them. You may lose a night of comfortable sleep, but you can make up for it once you arrive in Russia.
Another option you should consider is using connecting flights. In many cases, they are usually cheaper than direct flights. So, you may end up saving quite a bit of money that way as well.
Now that you know that you can visit the destination of your dreams, it’s time to get a Russian visa. You need one to travel to Russia regardless of your budget.
